Buffer Customer Advocate Interview Questions
& Process

Buffer asks everyone to post hiring announcements on LinkedIn, but then they get overwhelmed with applications. They leave the job posts open for weeks, so of course they get flooded. After applying, I had to record a video intro and do a multi-hour take-home assignment. I put in a lot of effort, making a thoughtful Loom video and giving detailed answers. However, Loom shows when videos are viewed, and mine was never opened. It felt like a waste of my time. Even though Buffer talks about transparency and kindness, the hiring process didn't seem to reflect that. Asking for unpaid work that isn't even reviewed feels disrespectful. It seemed like they preferred candidates with a large social media following or a "creator" vibe over actual qualifications. If you don't have a strong personal brand, it's hard to get noticed. I know companies get many applications, but if you value people and authenticity, you should at least look at the work you ask for.

Applied and got an email right away. About two weeks later, got another email asking me to do an extra exercise with more customer-focused questions. After submitting that, I heard back in under a week with an invite to a values interview. Following that interview, less than 24 hours later, I got an invite for a team interview. Due to holidays and schedules, it was about two weeks out. The team interview was an hour long, with pretty standard interview questions and all the info was easy to find online (Buffer is super open about their process, and this was true the whole way). I got feedback about 2 days after that interview. I wasn't chosen to move on, but if I had been, there would have been 2 more interviews after the ones I did.

I went through all stages in July, even as far as going through the final interview with the VPs. It stung when I wasn't picked and to be told that I was "one of our 5 finalists out of 1,300" hurt because I invested a lot of time in the interview process, 56 days to be exact. Their reason was a bit unsatisfactory because they should've cut me off in the 2nd stage if they felt that "my writing styles on your exercises, and verbal communication in which other candidates were slightly stronger". But ultimately the choice was theirs; I've long accepted that I wasn't the right candidate for the position. I would've not posted about my experience had I not stumbled upon the SAME job opening posted recently - September 21, 2021 to be exact. I distinctly remember that one of the VPs told me that they're not planning to expand any time soon in the customer support team so why is there another job opening for the same position and same timezone that I applied for in June? This experience left a bad taste in my mouth because I feel that they're using this job posting as PR stunt. I also felt that I was the token minority; that I was picked as one of the finalists so that they can claim that the company is inclusive and diverse. Let this be a warning for those who want to apply at Buffer. If anyone from the HR department is reading this, please be VERY transparent in your hiring process. Please be considerate of the candidates' time and please stop with all BS reasons that other candidates were "stronger" when you actually do not plan to hire anyone at all.